On 18 July, we received an application on Bizprotect.am website informing that the telephone number of SRC for the citizens in fact did not operate.

“Recently, there was information about a telephone number through which the citizens could receive information on the car customs clearance price. Unfortunately, no one answers the calls though we have been callings for several days already. “060 547304” this is the phone number that has been disseminated by iravaban.net,” informed the citizen.

It should be noted that on 7 July, the RA Law on Whistleblowing System was adopted. The law envisages the creation of an anonymous information platform in 2018. However, within the framework of the “Evidence-based Advocacy for Reform” project, Bizprotect.am website has already been created. This is platform to tackle any issues, risks and problems that hinder the business sector, including corruption. The website also provides opportunity to inform about a problem anonymously. Relevant steps are taken to verify the authenticity of these reports and to provide solutions.

Mariam Zadoyan, the Project Lawyer said that after receiving the report they tried to contact this phone number, but there was no answer to the calls. Then a letter informing about the situation was sent to the Head of the State Revenue Committee.

In response to this note, Mr. S. Avetikyan, the first deputy head of the State Revenue Committee replied:

“We inform you that as a result of the report about the non functioning of the phone number 060 54 73 04 for information on vehicle customs clearance, it was revealed that the mentioned phone number, which is intended for citizens' service, has not received telephone calls from July 15 to August , due to technical failure, which is currently fixed.”

“Evidence-based Advocacy for Reform” project is implemented by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE), Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) and European Business Association (EBA) with financial support of the German International Cooperation (GIZ). One of the objectives of the project is to identify corruption risks in the business sector, to evaluate the situation and develop proposals for relevant reforms.